Is it okay to tile over existing tiles or should I take them out first?

My recommendation is to remove the old ones and start new tiling.

Of course. While tiling over old tiles is possible if they are perfectly solid, it is generally not recommended because the added height will create awkward transitions and tripping hazards, the bond for the new tiles will be weaker and prone to failure, and you risk trapping moisture between the two layers, leading to mold and damage. For a guaranteed, long-lasting, and professional-looking result, the best practice is to always remove the old tiles to create a clean, stable, and flush surface for your new installation.

If you have any cracks or loose tile, I suggest do not install over it.

You can go over existing wall tiles if: The old tiles are firmly attached (no hollow or loose ones). The wall beneath isn’t damp or crumbling (especially in bathrooms). The surface is flat and plumb — no bulges or waves. You won’t create issues with outlets, switches, or trim (extra tile adds 1/4–1/2 inch). Check and repair Tap around for hollow sounds — remove or re-adhere any loose ones. Fill missing grout lines or chips with thinset and let cure. Deep clean Scrub with TSP or strong degreaser to remove soap scum, oils, or residues. Rinse well and dry. Roughen the surface Lightly sand or grind the tiles (60–80 grit or diamond cup wheel) to remove glaze. Wipe clean after sanding. Prime Apply a bonding primer like: Mapei ECO Prim Grip Custom Building Products MBP Ardex P4 This makes your thinset bond much stronger to the old surface. Use a quality mortar Choose a high-performance polymer-modified thinset made for “tile over tile.” Mapei Ultraflex 2 Ardex X77 Custom FlexBond Installation Tips Use a 1/4" x 3/8" trowel for standard wall tile. Back-butter the new tiles (especially larger ones) to ensure full adhesion. Check coverage — you want almost complete contact with the old tile surface. Use tile spacers to keep lines even (grout will hide small irregularities). Let set 24–48 hours before grouting. Be Careful If... It’s a shower wall — only proceed if the old wall is completely dry and solid. If there’s any hint of moisture damage, remove and rebuild with waterproofing (Kerdi, RedGard, etc.). The new tile is heavy stone or large-format — make sure the existing tiles and wall can handle the extra weight (especially drywall behind). Outlets, trim, or plumbing fixtures may need extensions or deeper escutcheon plates. Hope that helps!

It’s possible to install new tiles directly over old ones as long as the existing tiles are solidly fixed, clean, and free of cracks or moisture damage. However, it’s generally better to remove the old tiles if you can. Tiling over existing ones adds extra weight, can reduce space for fixtures or fittings, and may cause adhesion problems if the surface isn’t perfectly sound. Removing the old tiles also gives you a chance to check for hidden water damage or mold, ensuring a longer-lasting and more professional result. If you do tile over, make sure to thoroughly clean, degrease, and roughen the old surface, and use a high-quality adhesive designed for tiling on tiles.

It depends whether the floor is 100% level. Most floors aren’t, thus causing a problem. It’s not advisable to tile over tile or any other surface ( wood over wood). The surface of a floor has to be completely flat, prior to laying any new floor.

You can tile over existing tile only if: • every tile is firmly bonded (no hollow sounds, no loose pieces, no cracks); • the surface is clean, dry, and free of soap/grease; • walls are plumb and floors are flat (no bulges or dips); • added height won’t create tripping hazards or door/fixture clearance issues. Do not tile over if there’s any movement, moisture, damaged grout/tiles, or an unknown/crumbly substrate especially in wet areas. Most floors aren’t perfectly level, and stacking tile can make transitions awkward and the bond is only as good as what’s underneath. If you decide to go over tile: degloss/abrade the surface, vacuum and degrease, prime with a tile-to-tile bonding primer, then set with a premium modified (or epoxy) thin-set and use the right trowel to keep things flat. Recheck heights at doors, curbs, and drains. My recommendation: when budget and schedule allow, remove the old tile and start fresh so we can verify waterproofing, correct flatness, and avoid height issues. If the existing tile passes all the checks above, tiling over it is possible and can save time and mess.

You can but its recommended to replace the old existing tike. If this is your house and your a DIY kind of guy make sure the old tile is solid and the floor level but we as a company will not do this for a client as its not the right way to do it. The choice is yours.

Remove old tiles and install new ones